• Cold War preparations: two dozen state employees gathered at Redwood Falls High School for a one-day civil defense radiology course, where they learned how to calibrate Geiger counters in case of nuclear war.

• During the RFHS faculty dinner, teacher Otto Siewert was presented with arm cast made especially for him by Dr. William Inglis to commemorate Siewert’s breaking his arm in an auto accident nine months earlier.

Several days later, Siewert had reason to make use of the cast — while refereeing a basketball game, he tripped over the legs of a reserve player and broke his wrist.

• After nine straight strikes, only one falling pin in the tenth frame denied A.G. Seifert a perfect 300 game at Hi-Way Lanes.

Mr. Seifert’s response to the falling pin was not recorded.

• When police closed in at the back of the G & R Distributing building at 8:10 E. Bridge St., the thief crashed through the front window to make his escape. The police caught the 17-year old thief a block away.

• Redwood merchants set up a trailer on Washington St. for Santa to visit with children on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and on evenings when the stores were open.

1987—25 years ago

• With the new three-point shot rule going into effect for high school basketball, RFHS coach Dale Erickson said, “I”m optimistic about the rule change. I don’t know if I have any three-point shooters yet.”

• In a “What’s Cooking?” article discussing her favorite recipe, Ramona Larson — who moved to Redwood Falls two months earlier — said, “Eventually ... I’d like to open my own piano and dance studio someday. That might offer a long-term goal.”

• To combat increasing number of overdue notices being sent out, the Redwood Falls Public Library set up a new policy — until the overdue materials were returned and the fines paid, patrons were no longer allowed to check anything out.

• ALT, Inc., a new firm that designs and manufactures innovative wheelchair products, set up shop on South Washington St.

• The Redwood Senior Meal Site served an average of 52 meals a day during 1987.

• The Gazette did a human interest story about Eino Wepplo, 90, who owned three Ford Edsels he was trying to sell.

After editor Daryl Thul unaccountably decided to make Wepplo’s story the front page, above-the-fold lead story of the paper, it went on to become the best-selling issue of the Gazette for 2002.

Page 2 of 2 - • A routine traffic stop near Redwood Falls for a missing front licence plate turned into much more when the State Patrol officer discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, two open bottles of vodka, and a full bottle of rum in the vehicle, which also had two underaged passengers.

• The Redwood County Household Hazardous Waste facility closed for the season after its first two months operation, with unused paint being the most dropped-off item.